Shark Tank is a actuality TV present constructed round entrepreneurs looking for investments of their firms. A few of these firms go on to realize success. The worst Shark Tank merchandise went completely nowhere and produced nothing however losses for his or her traders.
Let’s check out among the lemons that Shark Tank has produced: the worst Shark Tank merchandise.
Shark Tank: How It Works
Shark Tank relies on a easy premise. Entrepreneurs convey their enterprise concepts into the Shark Tank and ask for cash in return for half possession of their firms. A panel of traders – the “sharks” – listens to the pitches, analyzes their potential, and decides whether or not to take a position.
Like all TV reveals, Shark Tank was primarily developed for leisure: viewers get a vicarious thrill out of watching entrepreneurs lay their concepts on the road and seeing some shot down and others strolling away with tons of of 1000’s in new capital.
Whereas Shark Tank is all about leisure, it has been a approach for some entrepreneurs to realize each cash and publicity, launching their firms to success. It has additionally launched some spectacular flops. We’ll have a look at among the worst Shark Tank merchandise right here.
🦈 Be taught extra: Discover our roundup of one of the best Shark Tank merchandise that made it large, from revolutionary devices to groundbreaking providers.
The 12 Worst Shark Tank Merchandise
Changing into an entrepreneur isn’t as straightforward as it’d first seem. It’s not sufficient to have a cool concept and convey it straight to market. You could totally develop your marketing strategy, analysis the market, determine your audience, assess the competitors, develop an enlargement technique, check the viability of your product, and extra.
These entrepreneurs have failed on not less than considered one of these accounts.
1. The Breathometer (2013)
At first look, the Breathometer, developed by Charles Michael Yim, appeared like an ingenious concept. Introduced in season 5 of the present (2013), the moveable breathalyzer might pair up with a smartphone to learn the consumer’s blood alcohol ranges.
All 5 of the sharks determined to spend money on it, with Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Kevin O’Leary, and Daymond John elevating 1 million in change for simply 30% of the enterprise’s fairness.
Issues arose after the funding, although. The enterprise couldn’t meet the heightened demand for the product. The product additionally failed to fulfill consumer expectations, delivering inaccurate outcomes and inflicting the Federal Commerce Fee (FDC) to step in.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the Breathometer needed to be taken off the market. The concept went down the drain, together with the cash invested by the sharks.
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2. CATEapp (2012)
In season 4 of the present (2012), the Shark Tank traders heard a presentation from Neal Desai, inventor of CATEapp. Often called the “cheater’s app”, CATEapp supplied the flexibility to cover messages from choose contacts, enabling them to solely be seen by the cellphone’s major consumer.
Two of the sharks, Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John, have been intrigued sufficient to boost $70,000 in change for 35% fairness.
The app bought 1000’s of downloads after its Shark Tank look, however it rapidly grew to become clear that the app was laden with bugs and leaked delicate data. Its options may be circumvented quite simply. Furthermore, it couldn’t compete with comparable, extra dependable apps that got here to market.
CATEapp is not obtainable for downloads, and the cash invested in it’s gone, making it one of many worst Shark Tank merchandise.
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3. Candy Ballz (2013)
Though the traders in Shark Tank have, on a number of events, highlighted how dangerous investing in meals companies could be, Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran jumped on the alternative to spend money on Candy Ballz.
In season 5 James McDonald and Cole Egger offered their concept: promoting scrumptious little cake balls. The founders acquired $250,000 in change for 25% of their fairness, and all was good for some time.
Sadly, although, James and Cole had a falling out and even filed for restraining orders towards each other.
Candy Ballz, now run by James, continues to be in enterprise right now, although it’s not almost as profitable because it might’ve been had he and his enterprise associate stayed on the identical web page. Candy Ballz could not have been one of many worst Shark Tank merchandise, however it was actually one of many worst partnerships!
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4. Squirrel Boss (2013)
Michael Desanti offered Squirrel Boss in season 4 (2013) of Shark Tank. At its core, it was a easy fowl feeder, however it had a characteristic that will ship an electrical shock to pests like squirrels to discourage them from stealing the fowl meals. Supposedly, the shock wouldn’t hurt the squirrels.
The primary drawback was that the product couldn’t differentiate between pests and birds and would shock any animal that got here into contact with it, a major design flaw that might hardly be neglected.
Squirrel Boss was additionally costly and unpatented, so not one of the sharks have been prepared to spend money on it.
Whereas it was obtainable on Amazon for some time, Squirrel Boss by no means took off resulting from its main design flaws and hefty value.
5. Authentic Man Candle (2011)
The Authentic Man Candle was the brainchild of Johnson Bailey, who believed that conventional scented candles have been too female.
Presenting his concept in season 2 of the present, Johnson tried to distinguish his product by introducing extra “masculine” scents that will supposedly attraction to the male audience.
Unsurprisingly, not one of the “sharks” have been serious about investing within the Authentic Man Candle. Which will have been as a result of number of scents supplied, which included “popcorn,” “golf course,” and “flatulence,” or as a result of lack of a complete marketing strategy.
6. ToyGaroo (2011)
ToyGaroo is among the better-known failures from Shark Tank. Initially offered in season 2 (2011), ToyGaroo was based by Nikki Pope, Younger Chu, Hutch Postik, Phil Smy, and Rony Mirzaians.
The premise behind it was easy. ToyGaroo rented out youngsters’s toys in a subscription-based service. Mother and father might join the service, lease high-quality toys for a month, return them, and get a brand new batch, avoiding the issue of spending on toys solely to have the children lose curiosity.
Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary noticed the attraction, committing $250,000 to the enterprise.
Nonetheless, ToyGaroo wasn’t prepared for the heightened demand following the episode’s airing. Sourcing high-quality toys and transport them proved to be costlier than anticipated, main the enterprise to go bankrupt in months.
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7. Trunkster (2015)
Trunkster was a promising new firm that was speculated to disrupt the journey trade. Based by Gaston Blanchet and Jesse Potash, it introduced a brand new degree of expertise to a really outdated product: baggage. The product was a sensible suitcase with helpful options like a GPS monitoring system, USB ports, a digital scale within the deal with, and extra.
Introduced on Shark Tank in season 7, Trunkster caught the eye of Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner, who invested $1.4 million in change for 15% of the corporate.
The deal, nevertheless, fell by means of. Trunkster’s obvious $28 million valuation solely got here from presales on Kickstarter and Indiegogo and aggressive income projections. Many of the clients who signed up for preorders by no means acquired their high-tech baggage and people who did acquired poor-quality merchandise that didn’t meet the expectations arrange by Trunkster’s advertising and marketing marketing campaign.
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8. Wired Waffles (2012)
Wired Waffles was a flop from the get-go. First offered in season 4 of Shark Tank, the enterprise was based by Roger Sullivan.
Wired Waffles are caffeine-infused waffles that will supposedly assist busy individuals save time within the morning since they wouldn’t need to make each espresso and breakfast.
Not one of the sharks have been serious about investing on this. In any case, caffeine as a easy ingredient couldn’t be patented. The product didn’t have a pleasing style, and worst of all, it may very well be ingested by youngsters accidentally.
Wired Waffles is an ideal instance of what occurs when entrepreneurs don’t suppose their concepts by means of, fail to check the viability of their merchandise and don’t conduct correct market analysis.
9. Vestpakz (2014)
Vestpakz appeared like a promising product when it was offered throughout season 6 of the present (2014). Michael Woolley and Arthur Grayer created it as an revolutionary new youngsters’s backpack that would scale back the wearer’s again and shoulder ache.
Formed to appear to be a vest and boasting loads of cupboard space, it appeared like the proper product. Sadly, although, no shark wished to spend money on it.
Regardless of Vestpakz being obtainable in Walmart shops, the gross sales have been abysmal. The ratio between its manufacturing prices and promoting value was too low, and there was minimal client demand. Finally, Vestpakz went out of enterprise.
10. Cougar Power (2012)
Cougar Power was a product developed by Ryan Custar and offered to Shark Tank traders throughout season 3 (2012). As its identify suggests, it was an vitality drink designed for “cougars”, aka middle-aged single ladies.
Supposedly, the drink wouldn’t solely convey the patron’s vitality ranges up, however it could additionally positively have an effect on the hair and nails. Furthermore, it boasted “anti-aging” elements, although none of those claims have been scientifically supportable.
Cougar Power acquired no investments in Shark Tank. Not one of the traders believed there was a marketplace for such a product, nor did they imagine it could stand as much as rivals. With low gross sales and loads of unfavorable feedback on Amazon and social media, it was obvious that the traders have been proper.
11. Wake N Bacon (2011)
Wake N Bacon was first offered by Matty Sallin in season 2 of Shark Tank. It was an alarm clock/oven that will begin cooking bacon 10 minutes earlier than wake-up time, thus waking the consumer as much as the candy scent of bacon.
The idea gained recognition on-line earlier than Matty got here on the present, with loads of individuals asking to purchase it.
Nonetheless, the sharks noticed it as a gag present that will have few reliable customers. Furthermore, it rapidly grew to become obvious that Matty hadn’t thought the entire idea by means of. There have been no security guards that will decrease hearth dangers, as an example.
Matty hadn’t give you a promoting value. He hadn’t developed a plan that will assist him promote extra models after making a prototype and had no gross sales projections.
All he had was an concept for a product and no plans to assist him market and promote it. Regardless of many on-line customers expressing a want for Wake N Bacon, the enterprise fell by means of as a result of there actually wasn’t a enterprise there within the first place, simply an concept.
12. Foot Fairy (2013)
Foot Fairy was offered throughout season 5 of Shark Tank. Inventors Sylvie Shapiro and Nicole Brooks developed an app to assist dad and mom measure their youngsters’s ft and purchase suitably sized footwear for them, thus minimizing the dangers of frequent foot points.
Foot Fairy can be free to make use of, and the corporate would earn commissions from well-liked shops like Zappos.
Nonetheless, regardless of the app having 1000’s of downloads previous to Sylvie and Nicole’s look on Shark Tank, the 2 had earned no commissions.
Whereas the idea, at its core, appeared attention-grabbing sufficient, there have been a few points that deterred the sharks from investing in it. The app was straightforward sufficient to repeat, which might deter any main retailers from providing commissions for it. Furthermore, it could have been a way more viable marketing strategy for Sylvie and Nicole to develop their very own model of footwear and use Foot Fairy to extend their gross sales.
Though one of many sharks did provide a deal, it by no means got here to fruition, and Foot Fairy is not obtainable.
Conclusion
Whereas there are a few outrageous Shark Tank pitches on this record, some would probably have confirmed to be profitable had the entrepreneurs developed their concepts higher. In any case, having a fantastic product concept isn’t sufficient to make sure the success of a enterprise. Entrepreneurs all the time need to conduct thorough market, competitor, and viewers analysis. They should check their merchandise’ viability, develop enlargement methods, and develop complete enterprise plans in the event that they hope to draw clients and traders.